Edmondson used to raise double-crop wheat and soybeans southern-style, but he quit about a decade ago because of poor wheat prices and the risk of soybeans being bit by frost.

If the polymer proves commercially viable, Edmondson is interested in trying it.

Landec Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., developed the polymer coating and retains the proprietary rights to the technology. Intellicoat Products, the Monticello-based marketing arm of Landec, will begin selling the coated seeds in 2002, said product manager Alan Barbre.

Landec announced in early August that it will build a coating facility in West Lebanon, Ind., near Danville, Ill.

Intellicoat is considering coating seeds with a thin layer of insecticides that would cut costs and be more environmentally friendly.

Vyn, who is conducting the research on behalf of Intellicoat, thinks wheat acreage could double in central and northern Indiana over 10 years, to about 1 million acres.

Intellicoat expects the coating to be received in agricultural markets outside the so-called wheat and soybean relay, as well, with corn as the largest.